Boston Celtics shooting guard Jason Terry (4) reacts after scoring against New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during overtime in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated the Knicks, 97-90. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

Celtics beat Knicks in OT, force Game 5

By SportsDirect

Reserve Jason Terry scored nine of his 18 points in the final 91 seconds of overtime as host Boston averted a four-game sweep despite blowing a 20-point second-half lead.

Paul Pierce scored 29 points and Jeff Green added 26 as the Celtics fought off a stirring comeback to force Game 5 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series on Wednesday at New York's Madison Square Garden. Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 17 rebounds for Boston.

Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points and Raymond Felton had 27 for the Knicks, who led only once - at 84-82 with 1:18 to play in regulation - and trailed 59-39 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

Terry put the Celtics ahead to stay by burying a 3-pointer with 1:31 left in the extra session. After Anthony sliced the deficit to one, Terry hit a short jumper and buried two foul shots for a 95-90 edge with 20.4 seconds left.

Pierce scored scored eight points in a 73-second span late in the second quarter to send the Celtics into the break with a seemingly commanding 53-34 lead. A 3-pointer by Green pushed it to 20 early in the third quarter before Felton scored 16 points in a 26-9 burst to pull New York within 68-65 entering the final 12 minutes.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Knicks played without Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith, who was suspended one game by the NBA for elbowing Terry in the face in the fourth quarter of Game 3. ... Boston prevailed despite getting mauled on the backboards 54-40, including a 34-19 edge in the second half and OT. ... The Knicks limited the Celtics to 14 points in the third quarter, the fifth time in the series they held Boston to 14 points or fewer in a quarter.